The Hindu Editorial • January 28, 2026 • Read Original

Pressure points: On Trump seeking Venezuela’s oil without costs of occupation

Trump’s strategy to keep pushing Caracas can only lead to a breaking point

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Analysis of editorial from The Hindu newspaper on January 28, 2026

Pressure points: On Trump seeking Venezuela’s oil without costs of occupation

Trump’s strategy to keep pushing Caracas can only lead to a breaking point

VenezuelaDonald TrumpOil ResourcesGeopoliticsImperialismDelcy Rodriguez

Sentences

Sentence 1 of 24

English Original

What is unfolding in Venezuela is naked imperialism.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

What is in Venezuela

The events that are currently happening in the country of Venezuela

Part 2

Represents or can be called

Part 3

A clear and undisguised attempt by a powerful nation to control a weaker one

Context and Background

U.S. Intervention in Venezuela (January 2026)

In early January 2026, the United States launched ‘Operation Absolute Resolve’, which led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. This was followed by the swearing-in of Delcy Rodriguez as Acting President and a U.S. naval blockade, leading many international observers to describe the move as a return to imperialist policies.

Sentence 2 of 24

English Original

Having ordered the abduction of a sitting head of state and imposed a naval blockade on a sovereign nation, U.S. President Donald Trump declared that Washington would now “run” Venezuela.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

Having ordered the of a and a on a

After ordering the kidnapping of the current leader and starting a military blockade against an independent country

Part 2

U.S. President Donald Trump

The leader of the United States

Part 3

declared

Announced or stated formally

Part 4

that Washington would now “” Venezuela

That the U.S. government would now control and manage Venezuela

Sentence 3 of 24

English Original

That he endorsed Acting President Delcy Rodriguez rather than the opposition does not diminish the criminality of these actions; it merely reveals their purpose, which was not about democracy or narcotics but about control of Venezuela’s oil.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

That he Acting President Delcy Rodriguez rather than the

The fact that Trump supported the current Acting President instead of the opposing political group

Part 2

does not

Does not reduce or make less significant

Part 3

the of these actions

The illegal nature of the U.S. intervention

Part 4

The choice to support Rodriguez

Part 5

merely

Only or just

Part 6

Shows something that was not clear before

Part 7

their purpose

The reason for the actions

Part 8

which was not about democracy or but about control of Venezuela’s oil

Explaining that the goal wasn’t freedom or stopping drugs, but taking over the oil

Sentence 4 of 24

English Original

The Trump administration’s approach might appear contradictory: help retain the Bolivarian regime while strangling its economic sovereignty.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The Trump administration’s approach

The method used by the Trump government

Part 2

might appear

Could seem to be

Part 3

Doing two things that don’t seem to go together

Part 4

help the while its

Keeping the current leaders in power while destroying the country’s financial independence

Sentence 5 of 24

English Original

But the logic is coherent.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

the logic

The thinking or reasoning behind the actions

Part 2

Is or can be described as

Part 3

Logical and making sense

Sentence 6 of 24

English Original

Washington wants Venezuela’s oil without the costs of occupation or the chaos of regime change.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

Washington

The U.S. government

Part 2

wants

Desires or seeks to get

Part 3

Venezuela’s oil

The oil reserves in Venezuela

Part 4

without the costs of or the chaos of

Without paying the high price of military control or the confusion of removing the leader

Sentence 7 of 24

English Original

It learned from Iraq that dismantling state structures creates insurgencies.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The U.S. government

Part 2

learned

Gained knowledge from past experience

Part 3

from Iraq

From the experience of the 2003 war in Iraq

Part 4

that creates

That destroying a country’s government systems leads to violent revolts

Context and Background

Lessons from the Iraq War (2003)

After the U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003, it disbanded the Iraqi army and government systems (dismantling state structures). This led to widespread chaos and the rise of violent armed groups (insurgencies) that fought against American forces for years. The editorial suggests the U.S. is trying to avoid this mistake in Venezuela.

Sentence 8 of 24

English Original

It believes that it is better to capture the existing apparatus and redirect its functions — a form of neocolonialism that maintains the forms of statehood while exercising actual control.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The U.S. government

Part 2

believes

Thinks or has the opinion

Part 3

that it is better to the and its functions

That taking over the current government structure and making it work for their own goals is a better strategy

Part 4

— a form of that maintains the forms of while actual control

A way of controlling a country that lets it look independent but keeps the real power in American hands

Sentence 9 of 24

English Original

This arrangement places Ms. Rodriguez in a difficult position.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

This arrangement

The current political situation or deal

Part 2

places

Puts or makes her be in

Part 3

Ms. Rodriguez

Acting President Delcy Rodriguez

Part 4

in a difficult position

In a situation that is hard to manage

Sentence 10 of 24

English Original

The Bolivarian movement was built on resisting precisely this kind of American domination over Venezuela’s resources.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The

The political group and set of ideas that supports the current Venezuelan government

Part 2

was built

Was founded or established

Part 3

on this kind of American over Venezuela’s resources

On the principle of fighting against exactly this type of U.S. control over their oil and minerals

Sentence 11 of 24

English Original

Yet her government, battered by a decade of sanctions, must now negotiate with the very power that kidnapped her predecessor.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

her government, by a decade of

Her government, which is very weak after ten years of economic punishments

Part 2

must now

Is now forced to talk and reach an agreement

Part 3

with the very power that kidnapped her

With the exact same country that took away the previous leader by force

Sentence 12 of 24

English Original

Her statement on Sunday, “Enough already of Washington’s orders over politicians in Venezuela”, reveals the strain that she is under.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

Her statement on Sunday, “Enough already of Washington’s orders over politicians in Venezuela”

The public comment she made on Sunday about being tired of the U.S. giving orders to Venezuelan leaders

Part 2

reveals

Shows or makes it visible

Part 3

the that she is under

The heavy pressure and stress that she is feeling

Sentence 13 of 24

English Original

She has complied with American demands on oil trade and released political prisoners as a “peace gesture”.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

She

Acting President Delcy Rodriguez

Part 2

has

Has followed or obeyed

Part 3

with American demands on oil trade

The rules the U.S. set for how Venezuela can sell its oil

Part 4

released

Set free from prison

Part 5

political prisoners

People jailed for their political views

Part 6

as a “peace ”

As an act to show she wants to cooperate and maintain peace

Sentence 14 of 24

English Original

But she cannot surrender Venezuelan sovereignty entirely without losing the Chavista base that sustains her government.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

she

Acting President Delcy Rodriguez

Part 2

cannot

Cannot give up or hand over control

Part 3

Venezuelan

The right of Venezuela to govern itself without outside interference

Part 4

entirely

Completely

Part 5

without losing the that her government

Because doing so would lose the support of the people who keep her in power

Sentence 15 of 24

English Original

The more pressure Washington applies on Caracas, the more it risks the very instability it claims to want to prevent.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The more pressure Washington applies on Caracas

As the U.S. government puts more force or tough demands on the Venezuelan capital

Part 2

the more it

The more the U.S. itself

Part 3

risks

Creates the danger of

Part 4

the very it claims to want to prevent

Exactly the kind of disorder and chaos that it says it is trying to stop

Sentence 16 of 24

English Original

If the U.S. wanted a productive economic relationship with Venezuela, it should not have embarked on this marauding path.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

If the U.S. wanted a economic relationship with Venezuela

If the United States truly desired a helpful and profitable business connection with Venezuela

Part 2

The United States

Part 3

should not have

Ought not to have started

Part 4

on this path

On this way of acting like an attacker looking for things to steal

Sentence 17 of 24

English Original

The sanctions that devastated Venezuela’s economy were American policy.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The sanctions that Venezuela’s economy

The economic punishments that destroyed the financial system of Venezuela

Part 2

were

Were the result of or were

Part 3

American policy

Official plans and actions decided by the U.S. government

Sentence 18 of 24

English Original

The migration crisis that Mr. Trump cited to justify intervention was a consequence of those sanctions.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The migration crisis that Mr. Trump to

The situation where millions of people left Venezuela, which Trump used as a reason to interfere

Part 2

was

Was actually caused by

Part 3

a of those sanctions

A result of the economic penalties placed on the country

Sentence 19 of 24

English Original

Now, Washington offers to ease the pressure it created, but only if Venezuela submits to exclusive American control over its resources.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

Now

At this moment in time

Part 2

Washington

The U.S. government

Part 3

offers

Proposes or says it is willing to do something

Part 4

to the pressure it created

To reduce the economic and political difficulties that were caused by American sanctions

Part 5

but only if Venezuela to American control over its resources

With the strict condition that Venezuela must let the U.S. have total and sole power over its oil and wealth

Sentence 20 of 24

English Original

This is not diplomacy; it is extortion.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

This

The U.S. approach of asking for oil in return for lifting sanctions

Part 2

is not

Cannot be called

Part 3

Managing relations between countries through peaceful talk

Part 4

The action described

Part 5

Is actually

Part 6

Getting something from someone by using threats or force

Sentence 21 of 24

English Original

The world cannot remain silent.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The world

The international community of nations

Part 2

cannot remain

Must not continue to be

Part 3

Not speaking out or opposing an injustice

Sentence 22 of 24

English Original

When Russia violated Ukrainian sovereignty, the international community condemned it and imposed sanctions.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

When Russia Ukrainian sovereignty

When Russia broke the rules by attacking the independent country of Ukraine

Part 2

the international community

The group of nations that cooperate on world matters

Part 3

Strongly criticized and spoke against

Part 4

The violation of Ukraine’s independence

Part 5

imposed

Forcibly applied or started

Part 6

Economic punishments intended to stop a country’s bad behavior

Sentence 23 of 24

English Original

Mr. Trump’s ‘Donroe Doctrine’ threatens not just Venezuela, but the foundations of the international order.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

Mr. Trump’s ‘Donroe Doctrine’

Trump’s new policy for the Americas, which is a mix of his name and the old ‘Monroe Doctrine’

Part 2

threatens

Puts at risk or is likely to harm

Part 3

not just Venezuela, but the of the

Not only Venezuela but also the basic laws and rules that keep the world organized and peaceful

Context and Background

Monroe Doctrine vs.

The ‘Monroe Doctrine’ (1823) was a U.S. policy that opposed European colonialism in the Americas. The editorial creates the term ‘Donroe Doctrine’ (a mix of ‘Donald’ and ‘Monroe’) to criticize Trump’s modern policy of interfering in Latin American nations like Venezuela, suggesting it is a new and dangerous version of old U.S. dominance.

Sentence 24 of 24

English Original

If it remains unchallenged internationally, no nation in the Global South can be safe.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

If it remains internationally

If countries across the world do not oppose or speak out against this policy

Part 2

no nation in the

Not a single developing country in regions like Asia, Africa, or Latin America

Part 3

can be

Will be able to stay

Part 4

safe

Protected and free from the danger of outside control

Sentence 1 of 24

Sentences Breakdown

Editorial Summary

5-Point Summary

1 The editorial labels the current U.S. actions in Venezuela as “naked imperialism” focused on controlling the nation’s vast oil reserves.
2 U.S. President Donald Trump has chosen to endorse Acting President Delcy Rodriguez to maintain state stability while exercising American control.
3 This strategy seeks to secure Venezuela’s resources without the heavy financial and human costs associated with a full military occupation.
4 Delcy Rodriguez is in a difficult position, forced to negotiate with the U.S. despite the anti-imperialist roots of the Bolivarian movement.
5 The text concludes that American policy is a form of extortion that threatens the international order and the safety of the Global South.

Tone of the Editorial

Critical

Why this tone?

The editorial adopts a sharp, disapproving tone towards the Trump administration’s foreign policy. It uses strong language like “naked imperialism,” “criminality,” and “extortion” to condemn what it sees as a predatory approach to Venezuela’s resources, highlighting the hypocrisy of American intervention under the guise of stability.

Sentence 1 of 24

What is unfolding in Venezuela is naked imperialism.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

What is unfolding in Venezuela

The events that are currently happening in the country of Venezuela

Part 2

Represents or can be called

Part 3

naked imperialism

A clear and undisguised attempt by a powerful nation to control a weaker one

Sentence 2 of 24

Having ordered the abduction of a sitting head of state and imposed a naval blockade on a sovereign nation, U.S. President Donald Trump declared that Washington would now “run” Venezuela.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

Having ordered the abduction of a sitting head of state and imposed a naval blockade on a sovereign nation

After ordering the kidnapping of the current leader and starting a military blockade against an independent country

Part 2

U.S. President Donald Trump

The leader of the United States

Part 3

declared

Announced or stated formally

Part 4

that Washington would now “run” Venezuela

That the U.S. government would now control and manage Venezuela

Sentence 3 of 24

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

That he endorsed Acting President Delcy Rodriguez rather than the opposition

The fact that Trump supported the current Acting President instead of the opposing political group

Part 2

does not diminish

Does not reduce or make less significant

Part 3

the criminality of these actions

The illegal nature of the U.S. intervention

Part 4

The choice to support Rodriguez

Part 5

merely

Only or just

Part 6

reveals

Shows something that was not clear before

Part 7

their purpose

The reason for the actions

Part 8

which was not about democracy or narcotics but about control of Venezuela’s oil

Explaining that the goal wasn’t freedom or stopping drugs, but taking over the oil

Sentence 4 of 24

The Trump administration’s approach might appear contradictory: help retain the Bolivarian regime while strangling its economic sovereignty.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The Trump administration’s approach

The method used by the Trump government

Part 2

might appear

Could seem to be

Part 3

contradictory

Doing two things that don’t seem to go together

Part 4

help retain the Bolivarian regime while strangling its economic sovereignty

Keeping the current leaders in power while destroying the country’s financial independence

Sentence 5 of 24

But the logic is coherent.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

the logic

The thinking or reasoning behind the actions

Part 2

Is or can be described as

Part 3

coherent

Logical and making sense

Sentence 6 of 24

Washington wants Venezuela’s oil without the costs of occupation or the chaos of regime change.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

Washington

The U.S. government

Part 2

wants

Desires or seeks to get

Part 3

Venezuela’s oil

The oil reserves in Venezuela

Part 4

without the costs of occupation or the chaos of regime change

Without paying the high price of military control or the confusion of removing the leader

Sentence 7 of 24

It learned from Iraq that dismantling state structures creates insurgencies.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The U.S. government

Part 2

learned

Gained knowledge from past experience

Part 3

from Iraq

From the experience of the 2003 war in Iraq

Part 4

that dismantling state structures creates insurgencies

That destroying a country’s government systems leads to violent revolts

Sentence 8 of 24

It believes that it is better to capture the existing apparatus and redirect its functions — a form of neocolonialism that maintains the forms of statehood while exercising actual control.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The U.S. government

Part 2

believes

Thinks or has the opinion

Part 3

that it is better to capture the existing apparatus and redirect its functions

That taking over the current government structure and making it work for their own goals is a better strategy

Part 4

— a form of neocolonialism that maintains the forms of statehood while exercising actual control

A way of controlling a country that lets it look independent but keeps the real power in American hands

Sentence 9 of 24

This arrangement places Ms. Rodriguez in a difficult position.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

This arrangement

The current political situation or deal

Part 2

places

Puts or makes her be in

Part 3

Ms. Rodriguez

Acting President Delcy Rodriguez

Part 4

in a difficult position

In a situation that is hard to manage

Sentence 10 of 24

The Bolivarian movement was built on resisting precisely this kind of American domination over Venezuela’s resources.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The Bolivarian movement

The political group and set of ideas that supports the current Venezuelan government

Part 2

was built

Was founded or established

Part 3

on resisting precisely this kind of American domination over Venezuela’s resources

On the principle of fighting against exactly this type of U.S. control over their oil and minerals

Sentence 11 of 24

Yet her government, battered by a decade of sanctions, must now negotiate with the very power that kidnapped her predecessor.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

her government, battered by a decade of sanctions

Her government, which is very weak after ten years of economic punishments

Part 2

must now negotiate

Is now forced to talk and reach an agreement

Part 3

with the very power that kidnapped her predecessor

With the exact same country that took away the previous leader by force

Sentence 12 of 24

Her statement on Sunday, “Enough already of Washington’s orders over politicians in Venezuela”, reveals the strain that she is under.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

Her statement on Sunday, “Enough already of Washington’s orders over politicians in Venezuela”

The public comment she made on Sunday about being tired of the U.S. giving orders to Venezuelan leaders

Part 2

reveals

Shows or makes it visible

Part 3

the strain that she is under

The heavy pressure and stress that she is feeling

Sentence 13 of 24

She has complied with American demands on oil trade and released political prisoners as a “peace gesture”.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

She

Acting President Delcy Rodriguez

Part 2

has complied

Has followed or obeyed

Part 3

with American demands on oil trade

The rules the U.S. set for how Venezuela can sell its oil

Part 4

released

Set free from prison

Part 5

political prisoners

People jailed for their political views

Part 6

as a “peace gesture”

As an act to show she wants to cooperate and maintain peace

Sentence 14 of 24

But she cannot surrender Venezuelan sovereignty entirely without losing the Chavista base that sustains her government.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

she

Acting President Delcy Rodriguez

Part 2

cannot surrender

Cannot give up or hand over control

Part 3

Venezuelan sovereignty

The right of Venezuela to govern itself without outside interference

Part 4

entirely

Completely

Part 5

without losing the Chavista base that sustains her government

Because doing so would lose the support of the people who keep her in power

Sentence 15 of 24

The more pressure Washington applies on Caracas, the more it risks the very instability it claims to want to prevent.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The more pressure Washington applies on Caracas

As the U.S. government puts more force or tough demands on the Venezuelan capital

Part 2

the more it

The more the U.S. itself

Part 3

risks

Creates the danger of

Part 4

the very instability it claims to want to prevent

Exactly the kind of disorder and chaos that it says it is trying to stop

Sentence 16 of 24

If the U.S. wanted a productive economic relationship with Venezuela, it should not have embarked on this marauding path.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

If the U.S. wanted a productive economic relationship with Venezuela

If the United States truly desired a helpful and profitable business connection with Venezuela

Part 2

The United States

Part 3

should not have embarked

Ought not to have started

Part 4

on this marauding path

On this way of acting like an attacker looking for things to steal

Sentence 17 of 24

The sanctions that devastated Venezuela’s economy were American policy.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The sanctions that devastated Venezuela’s economy

The economic punishments that destroyed the financial system of Venezuela

Part 2

were

Were the result of or were

Part 3

American policy

Official plans and actions decided by the U.S. government

Sentence 18 of 24

The migration crisis that Mr. Trump cited to justify intervention was a consequence of those sanctions.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The migration crisis that Mr. Trump cited to justify intervention

The situation where millions of people left Venezuela, which Trump used as a reason to interfere

Part 2

was

Was actually caused by

Part 3

a consequence of those sanctions

A result of the economic penalties placed on the country

Sentence 19 of 24

Now, Washington offers to ease the pressure it created, but only if Venezuela submits to exclusive American control over its resources.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

Now

At this moment in time

Part 2

Washington

The U.S. government

Part 3

offers

Proposes or says it is willing to do something

Part 4

to ease the pressure it created

To reduce the economic and political difficulties that were caused by American sanctions

Part 5

but only if Venezuela submits to exclusive American control over its resources

With the strict condition that Venezuela must let the U.S. have total and sole power over its oil and wealth

Sentence 20 of 24

This is not diplomacy; it is extortion.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

This

The U.S. approach of asking for oil in return for lifting sanctions

Part 2

is not

Cannot be called

Part 3

diplomacy

Managing relations between countries through peaceful talk

Part 4

The action described

Part 5

Is actually

Part 6

extortion

Getting something from someone by using threats or force

Sentence 21 of 24

The world cannot remain silent.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

The world

The international community of nations

Part 2

cannot remain

Must not continue to be

Part 3

silent

Not speaking out or opposing an injustice

Sentence 22 of 24

When Russia violated Ukrainian sovereignty, the international community condemned it and imposed sanctions.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

When Russia violated Ukrainian sovereignty

When Russia broke the rules by attacking the independent country of Ukraine

Part 2

the international community

The group of nations that cooperate on world matters

Part 3

condemned

Strongly criticized and spoke against

Part 4

The violation of Ukraine’s independence

Part 5

imposed

Forcibly applied or started

Part 6

sanctions

Economic punishments intended to stop a country’s bad behavior

Sentence 23 of 24

Mr. Trump’s ‘Donroe Doctrine’ threatens not just Venezuela, but the foundations of the international order.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

Mr. Trump’s ‘Donroe Doctrine’

Trump’s new policy for the Americas, which is a mix of his name and the old ‘Monroe Doctrine’

Part 2

threatens

Puts at risk or is likely to harm

Part 3

not just Venezuela, but the foundations of the international order

Not only Venezuela but also the basic laws and rules that keep the world organized and peaceful

Sentence 24 of 24

If it remains unchallenged internationally, no nation in the Global South can be safe.

Sentence Breakdown

Part 1

If it remains unchallenged internationally

If countries across the world do not oppose or speak out against this policy

Part 2

no nation in the Global South

Not a single developing country in regions like Asia, Africa, or Latin America

Part 3

can be

Will be able to stay

Part 4

safe

Protected and free from the danger of outside control

Reading Comprehension

Practice questions based on this editorial

Reading Comprehension - Trump's Strategy in Venezuela

Practice reading comprehension questions based on the editorial about Donald Trump's approach to Venezuela and its oil reserves.

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Pressure points: On Trump seeking Venezuela’s oil without costs of occupation

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